According to reports on Friday, Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict has been reinstated by the NFL and is hoping to play again in 2020.
Burfict’s contract with the Raiders is expiring and he becomes a free agent at the end of the league year in March. Given the fact that the NFL will undoubtedly suspend him for another season (or more) after his next illegal hit, no team is going to sign Burfict to a full-time role. So he probably won’t have many options.
But one option that Burfict probably will have is the Raiders.
With Tahir Whitehead not expected to be back, the Raiders are likely to have three new starters at linebacker next year. No one knows Paul Guenther’s defensive scheme better than Burfict and there is no question he has gained the respect of the Raiders locker room. If they can keep Burfict around in a limited role (maybe to ease in a couple young LBs), there wouldn’t be a lot of risk to re-signing him.
No other teams makes more sense than the Raiders. No one needs linebackers more and no system is better suited for Burfict than the Raiders system.
At the very least we know the Raiders are considering bringing back Burfict and unless they strike gold in free agency (at least 3 times), the reward to re-signing Burfict to a conservative deal definitely outweighs the risk.
Burfict is still only 29 and given the amount of vacation time the league has afforded him in recent years, the wear on his body should be relatively light.
Like it or not, if Burfict is going to play anywhere in 2020, it’s probably going to be for the Raiders. Worst case scenario is he might be suspended after a few games and someone has to step into a full time role a little sooner than they might have otherwise.
For the veteran minimum in cost, that’s a risk the Raiders should probably be willing to take.
twitter: @raidersbeat
BRINGING IN AB TO PLAY FOR THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS IS A MISTAKE, THAT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS OUTCOME WHEN IT GOES ERRIE, EVENTUALLY IT WILL, AB HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTTOL HIMSELF OR WHAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH…SAY NO TO LOVE, SAY NO TO AB …
F ,AD garbage
I BELIEVE BURFICT IS AN ASSET TO THE TEAM, EVEN MORE TO THE NEW COMERS, HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN PLAY LB IN THIS LEAGUE … BRING HIM BACK. THE PRICE WILL BE THE ONLY ISSUE, HES WORTH THE COST.
R u kidding. He has no idea what it takes to play in the league obviously or he would have made it more than 3 plus games with Raiders. He is a horrible example for younger players. Did u not witness how idiotic his action was that game that ended his season. It was not even close n included several different acts within the incident n then his walking off field laughing smiling like no biggie is a really great example. He like AB deserve never to play again in the league n fans that desire his return more than likely r terrible parents n their kids will always b in trouble. Get a clue n stop being fanatics.
You are a Sad Man… i am surprised that you watch Football…
Is he a she or what. Definitely a d
sad little idiot.
Calm down u must be a raider hater ,dont hate the playa hate the game
Bring him back ke is a savage just needs to control his hits put a claus in his contract to benefit the team the man can play doee
Re-Sign Him!! Not only that – Forget the League Minimum and Pay Him a Worthy Sum… Allow Him to Know and Keep his Pride and Worth but put a Suspension Clause in the Contract that Protects the Organization. He Will Perform AND watch himself to Protect His Living…
Ur just as lame as others. Sign him blah blah blah. GET A CLUE. He had many many chances he deserves no more. The actions that day were beyond idiotic (as r ur suggestions of bringing him back) n should have been easily avoided but the retard could not help himself cuz he cares nothing about respect for the rules, players health, his teammates, the organization he plays for, the fans, or his career. So why should he continue 2 get chance after chance. May as well say bring back AB f##k it. Any player can do whatever they want n if a team feels they need him give him as many chances as he wants n needs.
Great example u r.
Do YOU Really watch Football? Do You Know ANYTHING about the Game Dickey?? Did You ever Play the game or ever been even close to the Game? I may not be a Great Example but i did earn a Super Bowl Ring… To bad Woosy Weasels can’t be banned…
L.M. A. O.
The man a beast yes ke had his share of incidents but ke can help and his knowledge of the game and with youngsters coming in they will benefit from him I say sigh him up
Bring him back!
Heck Yes, bring him back. We’ve been waiting for him..
Always try to build a team with who we have, let’s get playing some football, with players we have..
It would be great if Burfict could play for the raiders. But in the first half of game 1 they will suspend him for the season
If he goes to New England he can play the entire season.
Don’t Really give a ****, what anyone says about Burfict, He’s the Perfect Intimidator that makes a difference? but the bottom line is, we need him to Help the Younger players Progress and learn to understand
Paul Gunther’s Scheme?
Ur prob the biggest idiot commenting on Burfict. No wonder this world is such a messed up place. Get a clue retard
Ya Like Mayor Pete? Or maybe The Bern? LoL
Good **** bro those youngsters will benefit from having him around
U got that right ,the man a hitter bottom line yes ke needs to control himself a lil but its football doee gotta love him
Of course bring him back. He was unfairly suspended last year. Worse hits got lesser penalties.
Bring him back he was the best MLB you had last year. He plays like the Raiders of old. Remember the 70s.
Now that’s what I’m talking and that is RAIDER FOOTBALL if u dont no u better ask somebody
I been for waiting this, “Hell Yea” bring him back!
Fasho
The raider image I say bring him back please throw in a claus to protect the team and put him on the field yes ke has had issues of hitting but with the claus ke will play smarter and the raiders will benefit from this move
I would like to see Burfict back he is a throw back to the golden days of football ., When the offensive players had to pay a price for coming over the middle . Now I know the league does not want to have injury to high priced talent ., And scare mothers from wanting their children playing the game so if we can get Burfict to not be quite so impolsive to put on the big hit . It could work out ., Because he is a very good linebacker
Amen bro
Signing Burfict is a good idea unless we sign a big FA linebacker. I doubt we will waste a high pick on a LB in the first round. We may sign one in the third, but, the first round is unlikely.
Definitely resign him. If you find a gem in the draft or free agency, he can mentor, he can step in and play, etc. By all accounts, he was a good teammate, a good locker room presence and enjoyed mentoring the younger players. He played hard and well for the Raiders last season when he was there. I’m tired of listening to Dick Enya give the same old blah, blah, blah about not resigning him — You’re obviously a Burfict hater, not even sure you’re part of the Raider nation — so no need to keep posting your hate.
My fellow Raider nation family, there is no doubt that we need an intimidator in the middle. The weak *** inconsistent NFL thinks that high scoring will somehow improve its tv ratings which keep decreasing. I don’t think that’s the answer. Maybe the NFL needs to rethink the pass happy flags for pass interference, roughing the passer and defenseless receiver/helmet to helmet. Collisions, hard hits and injuries are part of this game and it creates the excitement. Like Derek Carr said when a defensive player was injured trying to avoid landing on top of him with his body weight, players, including quarterbacks, know what they are signing up for. Instead of this panzie type approach to the game, the better approach might be more education as to the likelihood of injury, the risk and what to do if you get injured — better continuing health insurance for players including health insurance following retirement from the league and consistent fines, penalties, etc. I’m not advocating headhunting by defenses, but I’m also not advocating the evolution of football into the penalty for a hard tackle. Make the penalty system uniform so players know what to expect for violations, with step up penalties for repeat offenders (but consistent step ups, not a willy nilly suspended for the rest of the season and no suspension fo the exact same infraction).
Bottom line, bring back Burfict — have him mentor some young linebackers and keep your defense strong. I would also have a clause that pays him some amount if he gets suspended for a penalty that some objective people think is an unjustly harsh penalty so that while he will be more cognizant of avoiding dumb penalties, the NFL will not prevail in taking all of his aggressiveness away.
If you can’t hit people with a passion on the football field then what is the sense in watching? Long gone are the days of Lyle Alzado, John Matuzak, Howie Long, Bill Romanowski, Ronnie Lott, Tatum, Atkinson, Villipiano, Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Dick Butkis, Ted Hendricks, Jack Ham, Hacksaw Reynolds…etc., etc.
What is the point in watching two hand touch football? I stopped watching the pro bowl years ago. Soon the NFL will be unwatchable. Thanks Goodell.
They named a new weed here in our local shops (nevada ) the Burfict. Really knocks you on your ***…
The Old Days of Real Hard Hitting Football are Gone for Good… Funny thing is that the Powers at NFL Headquarters Pretend that they are trying to Protect Players Health… They NEVER have cared about the Players, They Still Don’t and they Never Will. They have this New PR Stance ONLY because They Got Caught !!! They knew about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and didn’t do Anything except try to Silence the Doctor who documented the Syndrome. All they care about is their Bottom Line… Believe it or not One of the Only Owners who personally cares about the Players is Mark Davis!!